Method and apparatus for making paper sheet



DeC. 9, 1941. R, J, SERPAS 2,265,455

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER SHEET Filed Feb. 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Shee'tl l 9, 1941. R. J. sERPAs METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER SHEET Filed Feb. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER SHEET Ralph J. Serpas, Minneapolis, Application February 4, 1937, Serial No. 124,021

(cl. '9a-39) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making paper, paper board or similar material.

A great portion of the paper made today is made on a machine known as the Fourdrinier. In such a machine a very thin mixture of paper pulp is flowed or floated onto a travelling foraminous belt or screen supported on a. series of rollers. This travelling belt or screen is usually given short transverse reciprocations. The water from the mixture passes through the belt and this movement of the water is usually assisted by several suction boxes placed under the belt. The fibers forming the paper are thus left on the belt and are passed between rolls to compress the same. The layer of paper is nally lifted from the screen and travels on over other belts and rollers until it is sufliciently dried and compressed to be wound upon a roll. As the fibers move onto the travelling belt they tend to aline themselves longitudinally in the direction of travel of said belt. It is to counteract this effect that the lateral reciprocations are given to the belt. In spite of this counteracting effect, however, the greater part of the fibers do extend longitudinally of the belt. This results in a paper which has a decided bias in structure. This can usually be observed by tearing a piece of paper. It will tear much easier and straighte" along the line which was disposed longitudinally of the foraminous belt than along the `transverse line.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means and method of distributing the pulp onto a moving or other surface so that the fibers will be substantially uniformly distributed and will not extend for the most part in any one direction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus in which a pulp mixture of fluid or semi-fluid form is forcibly projected by spraying onto a surface which may be a moving surface such as the foraminous belt or screen used in the Fourdrinier machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for forming a sheet of paper material by forcibly projecting or spraying a paper pulp mixture upon a surface adapted to receive the same and in which the spraying means is movable.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for making a sheet of paper material in which a member having a travelling surface adapted to receive a layer of paper pulp is used and in which a spraying means simultaneously sprays a layer of pulp mixture thereon.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus in which a travelling screen is used and a series of travelling spraying members are used, the spraying members and screen moving in the same direction and the spraying members simultaneously spraying a layer of pulp mixture onto said screen.

-These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in central vertical section and partly in side elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrow;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 as indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a nozzle modification; and

Fig. 10 is a plan View of a further modication.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 to 4, a machine is shown having a frame designatedV generally as I I, said frame having side portions I lla suitably connected in which side portions are disposed bearings for a plurality of rollers I2. There is a rather large number of the rolls I2 and these are arranged with their top surfaces in a horizontal plane and are all of the same diameter. A roll I3 ls disposed at one end of the frame and a roll I4 is disposed at the other end of the frame at a somewhat lower level than roll I3. A foraminous belt or screen I5 runs over rollers I3 and I4 and over or under a plurality of other rollers I6 having bearings in the side portions 11a. Belt l5 also runs between a pair of pressure rollers Il also having bearings in portions IIa. A pair of suction boxes I8 are shown disposed beneath belt I5 adjacent one end thereof moves in the same direction as said surface and 66 and these will be provided with some means (not i shown) for exhausting air therefrom. Another over which runs a felt belt 2l.

frame I9 is disposed adjacent the frame II and also has side portions I9a in which are bearings for a plurality of comparatively small rollers This belt also runs between a pair of pressure rollers 22 having bearings journaled in the side portions I9a, the

- I2, said pan having a drain spout 24a extending downwardly and laterally at one side of the machine. The machine so far described is substantially like similar parts of the well known Fourdrinier machine.

In accordance with the present invention a plurality of conduits 25 extend across member I5 at some distance above the same, these being supported upon brackets 26 secured to the side frames Ila. Each of the conduits 25 has de` pending therefrom a rather large number of spouts Aor nozzles 25a spaced equally longitudinally thereof. Eachconduit also has disposed therein a screw conveyer 21. Each conduit has a removable cover 28 held in place by screws 29 extending through lugs on said cover and into lugs projecting at the sides of said conduits. The conduits 25 are connected to and communicate with a larger conduit 30 disposed at one side of the machine, said conduit 30 having a central feed spout or conduit 30a extending upwardly therefrom. Conduit 30 has end members 30h forming bearings for a shaft 3i to which are secured screw conveyers 32 and 33 respectively. Conveyers 32 and 33 are of opposite pitch so that material is carried away from conduit 30a in opposite direction. Shaft 3I has secured thereto a sprocket 34 over which runs a chain 35, said chain also running over a sprocket 36 secured to a shaft 31 journaled in bearings carried by end members 38h. Shaft 31 has secured thereto a number of beveled gears 38 meshing respectively with other beveled gears 39 secured to shafts I0 disposed in and journaled in the conduits 25,

. which shafts carry the screw conveyers 21. The

conduits 25 have terminal portions 25h which are Belt 2 I approaches manner.

machine. Some of the water will pass through the screen belt I5 into the pan 2l and pass off through the drain spout 24a. More of the moisture will be drawn through the belt into the suction boxes I8. There will be few if any of the suction boxes used and the number will be much less than used with the Fourdrinier machine. The conveyers 32 and 33 and 21 will be quite rapidly driven so that sufllcient pulp material will be delivered -to all of the nozzles 25a. Any

'of the pulp material passing beyond the last nozzle will be discharged through the terminal portions 25h into the trough 25e from which it may be removed in any desired manner. As the layer of material travels along on belt I5 it will pass under the top roller I1 and be somewhat compressed or formed. The layer will m'ove with belt I5 under the larger roller 23.. The layer will be lifted after being formed and started onto the felt belt or conveyer 2l in the usual From this belt said layer passes under pressure roller 22 and is further conveyed and compressed as well as being dried until it is ready to be wound upon a roll. The combined action of the compressed air and conveyers insures that there will be a proper distribution of the material and that all of the nozzles will be supplied therewith. The nozzles project the material downwardly as stated in a conical spray so that the material strikes the travelling belt I5 in various directions and is projected thereagainst so that the fibers retain the position which they take on the belt. 'I'he tendency of the bers to aline themselves with the direction of movement of the belt as takes place in the very fluid mixture used with the Fourdrinier machine is thus overcome. -The resulting paper will therefore have no bias of fiber distribution in any direction.

In Fig. 9 a modified form of conduit and nozzle is shown which Vmay be used in place of the conduits 25 and nozzles 25a. A conduit 25aa is shown in which will be disposed the screw conveyer 21aa and said conduit will have depending therefrom a multiplicity of nozzles 25bb. Instead of having the air under pressure delivered into the conduit 25am the air will be supplied in a separate pipe 231m which will be connected by short pipes or nipples 29aa to an annular chamber 25cc which extends about the inner side of bent at right angles to have downwardly directed outlets and these outlets are disposed over. a trough 25e supported upon the side members I Ia of the frame by brackets 25d.

In operation, the paper pulp mixture will be delivered to conduit 30a from some suitable vat or hopper. The belt I5 will be driven by driving the rollers I3 and Il in the usual manner so that said belt I2 will move to the right as seen in Fig. 1. Compressed air will be delivered into conduit 30a with the pulp mixture. Shaft 3l will be driven from any suitable source of power and. the pulp material will be moved outwardly in both directions from conduit 30a in the conduit 30 and will be delivered to the conduits 25. The mixture will be delivered to the nozzles 25a and will be forcibly projected therefrom in the form of a spray and delivered in a conical shower to the belt I5. The nozzles are so Adisposed that a layer of uniform thickness will be formed on belt I5 as it moves along beneath the nozzles. The mixture will contain much less water than the Amixture ordinarily used with the Fourdrixer nozzle 25bb. There are a plurality of holes 25dd extending downwardly toward the discharge end of the nozzle leading from chamber 25cc.

As the Amaterial is moved throughout the length of conduit 25aa it will drop into the nozzles 25bb and will be engaged by the air issuing through holes 25dd and forcibly projected in a conical or expanding shower through the discharge end of the nozzle and onto the belt I5. The nozzles will be arranged to give a uniform layer of material on said belt. The passage of the air downwardly and out through the discharge end of the nozzle will act to cause the pulp mixture to be drawn downwardly into the nozzle.

In Fig. 10 a construction is shown in which conduits 25ee corresponding to the conduits 25 shown in Figs. 1 to v4 will each be supplied with a separate inlet or feed conduit 25H. Conduits 25cc will be provided with screw conveyers carried on central shafts as shown and described in connection with Figs. l to 4 and said shafts have secured thereto beveled gears 2Gb?) which mesh respectively with beveled gears 21bb secured to a shaft 28bb journaled in bearings in brackets 29bb formed on the end closing members of conduits 25ee. Shaft 28bb has secured thereto a sprocket 80th which will be driven by a chain from some suitable source of power or drive.

With the construction shown i'n Fig. 10 layers of different material may be successively deposited on the belt I5. This is often desirable in making laminated sheets, particularly in making various kinds of paper board. The construction can also be used to place any desired coating or surfacing layer on a paper sheet, the said coating material being supplied in the last inlet or feed conduit 25j! in the direction of travel of belt I5. The various inlet conduits 25ff can also carry pulp mixtures of different colors.

In Figs. to 8 a modified form of apparatus is shown. The structure comprising the travelling belt I5 and cooperating parts including parts numbered III to 24 is the same as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In addition brackets 44 are shown as secured to the side members IIa by bolts 45. Shafts 46 and 41 are ,iournaled in bearings in the upper portions of brackets 44 and said shafts each have secured to one end thereof a sprocket wheel 48. A chain 49 runs over sprockets 48 and over a larger sprocket 50 disposed midway between sprockets 48, the same being secured to a shaft 5I journaled in bearings in the upper ends of a pair of brackets 52 also secured to the side members IIa by the bolts 53. Shaft 5I carries a drive pulley 54 which will be driven by a belt from some suitable source of power. Each of the shafts 46 and 41 have secured thereto adjacent their ends sprockets 55. Sprockets 55 on the respective shafts are of the same diameter and chains 56 run over these sprockets. Secured to the chains 56 are a plurality of conduits 51 each having projecting therefrom a large number of discharge nozzles 58. The conduits 51 are closed at one end, this being the end adjacent chain 56 and at their other ends are connected to and communicate with flexible conduits 59. The conduits 59 extend to and are secured to hollow bosses 68a on a revoluble member 60. Member 60 is mounted to run on ball bearings 60e about a substantially cylindrical casing 6I. Casing 6I has a projecting hub 6Ia extending through the bored end of a bracket 62 having a base 62a which will be secured to the oor or supporting surface by the bolts 6-3. The bored upper end of bracket 62 is provided with a cap 62h held in place by the bolts 64. The hub 6Ia of member 6I will be connected in any suitable Way with a conduit 65. The member 60 is shown as having a central hub 60h into which extends one end of shaft 5|, said shaft being secured to said hub by the set screw 66. Member 6I has an arcuate ange 6Ib engaging the wall of member 60, which flange is substantially 180 degrees in extent so as to cover 7 of the 13 outlets shown for the conduits 59. The sprockets 48, 50' and 55 will be so proportioned that the chains 56 make one complete cycle of travel in one revolution of shaft 5|.

In operation the fluid or semi-duid pulp mixture will be delivered to conduit 65. Considerable pressure of air will be maintained to force this mixture into the casing 6| and out through the conduits 59. Shaft 5| will be driven so that the conduits 51 will travel with chains 56 and as shown by the arrows in Fig. 5 the lower run of chains 56 and the conduits thereon will travel along above the belt I5 and in the same direction as said belt. As member 60 revolves the openings for conduits 59 pass out of registry with the flange 6I b and the material is then forced through conduits 59 and into the conduits 51. The material will be forcibly projected in a spray or shower from the nozzles 58 onto the belt I5. 'I'he conduits 51 can be made to travel with the same speed as belt I5 or there may be some difference in speed. In any case the fibers are projected onto the belt or moving member I5 and will maintain the positions in which they strike said belt. The tendency of the belt to aline the fibers is thus overcome. A layer or sheet of paper is thus deposited 'on the belt I5 and the same will pass under the top rollers I1 and 23, the moisture will be drained or drawn therefrom and the layer will continue to move onto the belt 2|. It will be seen that the conduits 59 will move at one end with the chains 56 and attheir other ends will revolve with the member 60 so that they will be kept in the proper positions. The invention also contemplates the spraying of a coating or sizing material on the layer after it has been formed on the belts I5 or 2|. This coating or sizing could be delivered to the last conduit 25ee in the direction of travel of the belt I5 so that it would be the last layer deposited on the sheet of material being formed. Also with the present invention one or more central or intermediate layers of the sheet formed on the belt could be of waterproof material. It will also be understood that surplus material can pass out of the ends of conduits 51. Since there is very little water in the pulp mixture used it is unnecessary to always use the suction boxes I8. In paper made on the Fourdrinier machine the suction boxes 'draw out the moisture and often draw out a large part of the sizing or finer parts of the pulp-mixture so that the paper is not the same on the side next to the belt as on the top""side. With the present invention the'paper can be made the same on the bottom side as on the top side so that either side can be used for any purpose for .which the paper is designed.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a comparatively simple and very efficient method and apparatus for forming a layer of paper on a surface or the receiving surface of a moving member. The material will be so deposited as above stated that there will be no alinement of the small fibers in any one direction. 'Ihe method and apparatus are well adapted for making paper board or the thicker papers. In some cases it would be possible to use merely a felt belt instead of the usual screen belt for member I5. The nozzles used for spraying the mixture will, of course, be of any suitable construction. With the present invention pulp mixtures can be used which will contain much less water than the mixtures used with the Fourdrinier machine. In the present case the material does not have to be floated or flowed onto the belt but is forcibly directed onto the belt in the form of aspray shower. In many cases there will -be just enough liquid in the pulp mixture to carry the bers and make the mixture of'a semi-fluid consistency. In the use of the term pulp mixture it is understood that this covers the various mixtures used in paper making which consist of water or other fluid in which is mixed the short fibers or other solid material forming the body of the paper.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the apparatus and in the steps and sequence of steps of the method 'the objects above set surface, and means without departing from the scope'of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a method and apparatus capable of carrying out forth, such as disclosed and denedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

`l. An apparatus for making al sheet of paper material having in combination, a travelling foraxninous belt having a top portion disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, a conveying means adjacent said portion and extending parallel thereto for a distance, and a plurality of conduits carried by said means extending across said belt, each having a multiplicity of spray nozzles thereen, said means and conduits travelling in a plane substantially parallel to said belt, and means for delivering a pulp mixture to said conduits and spraying the same through said nozzles as said conduits move parallel to said belt.

2. A'n apparatus for making a sheet of paper material having in combination, a member having a moving foraminous surface, an endless conveyer adjacent said member having a portion extending parallel to said surface, a plurality of conduits carried by said conveyer in parallel relation, each having a plurality of spray nozzles thereon, a flexible conduit connected to each of said conduits at one end thereof, a revoluble member to which said flexible conduits are connected at their other ends, said conduits extending above and transversely of said foraminous surface, and means for forcibly delivering a pulp mixture through said flexible conduits and first mentioned conduits for spraying the same through said nozzles, whereby said conduits are moved over and parallel to said surface and the pulp is sprayed by the nozzle thereof to form a layer on said surface.

3. An apparatus for making a sheet of paper material having in combination, a member having a dat foramnous surface adapted to receive a layer of pulp mixture and movable in a substantially horizontal plane, a plurality of spaced conduits extending transversely of and above said surface, each having spaced means for projecting a spray of pulp material downwardly onto said for successively moving said aacute' pulp mixture from said nozzle, onto said conduits longitudinally of said member in planes substantially parallel to said surface. 4. -The method of making a sheet of paper material which consistsin moving a fiat traveling foraminous surface substantially in one plane, moving a spraying nozzle in a plane substantially parallel with said surface, and continuously in the same direction and simultaneously spraying a surface in a direction substantially at right angles thereto to form a layer thereon, and then removing said layer. i

5. An apparatus` for making a sheet of paper material having in combination, a member having a dat foraminous surface movable in a substantially horizontal plane, spaced nozzles adjacent and above said surface for spraying a uid pulp mixture thereon to form a layer of said mixture upon said surface, and means for moving said nozzles in a plane substantially parallel to said surface and in the same direction of movement as said'surface while they are spraying said pulp mixture. 6. Anv apparatus material having in for making a sheet of paper combination, a traveling fo- `raminous belt having a substantially flat top horizontal portion, a plurality of conduits extending across said portion above the sama-each having a plurality of nozzles extending therefrom for receiving and spraying a layer of fluid pulp mixture upon said belt, and means for moving said conduits in a plane substantially parallel with said belt and in the same direction of said belt and at substantially the same speed while said mixture is being sprayed.

7. Ari apparatus for making a sheet of paper material comprising a member having a at traveling foraminous surface movable in a substantially horizontal plane, means for moving said surface, nozzles spaced transversely of said surface for spraying pulp mixture thereon, and means for moving said nozzles during the spraying operation in a plane substantially parallel with said surface and in the same direction as said surfar travels.

. RALPH J. SERPAS. 

